The audio is on the fritz for the people at home.

They're trying to rectify that.

We can hear each other in the chamber, but unfortunately, for those watching on Zoom and on Teams, I'm sorry, on YouTube, the audio is not coming through.

So if you just have a few more minutes and we'll try to control shit.

Okay, Mr.

Mayor, I believe the audio is working again.

Okay.

Thank you, Rich.

So it's my pleasure to um present this proclamation.

Uh, National Public Works Week is uh next week, May 7th.

Thank you.

May 17th through the 23rd.

And um, whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure facilities and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life and well-being of the people of South San Francisco.

Whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems.

Public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens, and whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders and children in South San Francisco to gain knowledge of and to maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities.

And whereas the year 2026 marks the sixty-sixth annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association.

And in ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and quality of life for all.

Professionalism, pride, and commitment on behalf of the entire public works team.

Thank you again for the recognition and continued support of the important work our team does for the community.

Moving on to item number two is a proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

And uh because of his commitment to building mental health awareness, um, you know, throughout our city and and indeed the county and work that he has done uh professionally uh in his career.

I've asked um Eddie Flores to present this mental health.

Thank you, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, very proud to uh share um and take a moment to recognize May as mental health awareness month.

And it shouldn't just be one month, it should be all year round.

And how I like to um underscore and underline um mental health is is health.

It's it's part of our daily being and well-being.

And here in San Mateo County, this month is uh dedicated to increasing not only our understanding, but really truly reducing stigma and reminding each other that mental health is an essential part of our daily lives.

This year, our county theme is mental health is for everyone.

Uh unidos por la salud mental.

It is powerful, it is touching, it calls upon all of us to stand together to make space for every voice and to ensure that support is accessible and it is culturally responsive for all of our communities.

Uh, the green ribbon that you probably have seen some colleagues here and and some folks uh wear, it it is uh something that symbolizes symbolizes commitment.

It represents hope, it represents healing and the courage that it takes to talk openly about mental health.

When someone wears a green ribbon, they are telling those around them you're not alone, you matter, your story deserves care and understanding.

And it is a reminder that recovery is possible and that compassion can be life-changing as well.

Uh this evening we're also um uh joined by uh two of our counties' behavioral health commission.

And this is important because many folks uh perhaps know or not know what the behavioral health commission really focuses on and works on, but I can tell you from a professional standpoint um everything from grants, everything to funding uh not only our children and our youth, but also mental health services uh and community organizations that help seniors with mental health, that help men of color with mental health as well.

I was uh very uh fortunate to start a center that uh was uh funded by the statewide uh mental behavioral health commission, and that's Alcove, which now has over 12 different centers throughout uh California, including one here in San Mateo, another one in the coast, another one in Palo Alto.

Um, and it is through the work again that the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission continues.

Um, this past Saturday, myself and two other council members, we have been working together to what's been uh kind of formally recognized as the mayor's mental health initiative here in San Mateo County.

This was started about five years ago in order to bring awareness uh to mental health at a local level here at a county level.

Uh, for the first time ever, it's never really been done here.

Um, I will say in the state of California, through associations that support elected officials or school board members or even uh board of supervisors.

We held a training, a mental health training for elected officials.

Um, and it was supported and sponsored by uh board president Samateo County Supervisor Noelia Corso, and we had over 30 elected officials, city council members as well as mayors, as well as school board members who were uh part of this uh kind of inaugural cohort, if you will.

It was uh provided and facilitator by licensed clinicians, um, and it was uh very uh uh moving to see many of us be in a space where we could share some of the difficulties.

Many times when you're in leadership, you assume that we are uh not affected by by mental health or or uh this doesn't affect us in it and it does.

So it was uh it was really powerful to be there.

I want to thank my colleague, council member Nicholas for also supporting and the others.

This will be one of many, and we hope that uh many others will join on um and be part of it.

And it was also part again through the support of the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission.

Um, and tonight I want to recognize uh Commissioner Yukon Ng, uh co-vice chair of the Samateo County Behavioral Health Commission.

Her dedication really reflects the county's mission to live stigma to strengthen access and build a behavioral health system that is rooted in dignity and equity and whole person care.

Uh she has a strong advocate for ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience are centered in our policies and our voices.

Uh so I want to recognize uh also Ms.

Kanoko N, whose support and steady presence strengthens this work in meaningful ways.

We would not be able to do this work and recognize this without everyone, truly everyone, because mental health, like I said, is for everyone.

So if you could please join me and give a warm hand in welcoming Samitel Behavioral Health Commissioner Ng and Ms.

Ng to the podium.